One of the most interesting and rewarding careers that exists is working as a registered dietitian. While working as a registered dietitian, you will employ advanced nutritional concepts in order to develop meal plans for clients that will help them follow proper nutritional guidelines. However, before you can work as a registered dietitian, you must first complete a dietetic education, which means attending a registered dietitian school.
Enrolling in a registered dietitian school is your first and most important step in becoming a registered dietitian, which means you need to learn more about your options for attending one of these schools. Learn more about registered dietitian schools and find out why education is vital when you are considering a career as a dietetic professional.
Accredited Institutions
When a person is searching for a registered dietitian school, what they need is an institution that has been accredited by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). ACEND is the largest organization of dietetic professionals in the world, and one of its main purposes is accrediting schools that offer bachelor’s and graduate level degree programs to aspiring registered dietitians.
There are two primary reasons that attending an ACEND accredited registered dietitian school is important. First, earning an accredited degree is often a requirement for licensure in the states that regulate dietetic practice. Second, completing a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is one of the main requirements for becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Registered Dietitian School Programs and Coursework
Accredited dietitian schools often offer multiple dietetic programs that you can choose to complete. The most common dietetic program is known as a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). By completing a DPD program, you will receive a bachelor’s degree and will be eligible to enroll in a dietetic internship. The other type of program you could choose is called a Coordinated Dietetic Program (CP). This program covers the same material as a DPD while also including a dietetic internship.
Whichever of these dietetic programs you choose to enroll in at your registered dietitian school, you will complete several courses that are related to working as a dietitian. Some of the most common courses you will take during your degree include food and nutrition, clinical nutrition, biology, chemistry, food management and dietetics.
Registered Dietitian School and Salary Levels
The primary benefit of attending a registered dietitian school and earning a bachelor’s degree is increasing your potential salary level. As with most professions, the higher your education level, the higher your possible level of pay. If you’re interested in learning about your salary as a registered dietitian, it’s a good idea to examine the data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
According to the most recent information by the BLS, the median pay for a registered dietitian working in 2015 was $59,910 per year or $27.84 per hour. However, as mentioned, these numbers can be changed depending on your education, as well as the state in which you are employed.
If you want a successful and rewarding career as a dietitian, one of the most important things that you can do is to complete a degree at one of the country’s many registered dietitian schools. Attending a registered dietitian school will give you the skills and knowledge necessary to help your future clients achieve their nutritional goals.